By HENRY EMPEÑO | November 10, 2025

MASINLOC, Zambales — A total of 8,104 families comprising 23,394 individuals evcuated to safety, as super typhoon “Uwan” (Fung-wong) began lashing the province with gale-force winds late Sunday night, November 9.

Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Rolex Estella said hundreds of residents from the 13 towns of Zambales heeded the call for preemptive evacuation early Sunday due to expected storm surges.

Most of the evacuees were from coastal communities in Santa Cruz town, with a total of 7,207 individuals; Botolan, 4,795; Masinloc, 3,084; Subic, 2,259; and Candelaria, 2,180.

The evacuees were temporarily housed in barangay halls, schools, and other public centers.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Uwan has weakened into a typhoon as it exited the Philippine area of responsibility.

However, heavy rainfall warning remains hoisted over Zambales, along with several areas in Central Luzon, as of this writing, the PDRRMO said.

The PDRRMO issued Wind Signal No. 4 over the northern towns of Santa Cruz and Candelaria and Signal No. 3 over the rest of the province as of 5 a.m. Monday.

Flooding had also been reported in coastal areas and riverine communities in Masinloc, Santa Cruz, Subic, and Olongapo City during high tide on Sunday.

Most towns in Zambales also suffered from power interruption since Sunday evening, as strong winds toppled trees that snagged power lines. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said it had restored power supply across Zambales as of 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said LGUs had been proactive in preparing for the typhoon and closely monitored the situation since Sunday.

Ebdane also inspected bridges and dikes in major river systems in the province Monday morning and gave the assurance that flood control infrastructures are holding up.

Estella said that except for some partially damages houses, no major damages had been reported thus far throughout Zambales. 

COVER PHOTO: Trained counselors from the Masinloc Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office help kids draw as part of psychosocial activities to lessen the psychological impact of evacuation. (Photo from fb page of Mayor Hazel Lim)